Coin-controlled electric switch



June 24, 1930. w. PODROUZEK 5 COIN CONTROLLED ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Oct.24. 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 24, 1930. w. PODROUZEK COIN CONTROLLEDELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Oct. 24, 1929 4'Sheets-Sheet June 1930- w.PODROUZEK 1,766,354

COIN CONTROLLED ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Oct. 24.1929 4 Sheets-Sheet s Jun24, 1930. w. PODROUZEK I 1,766,354 7 COIN CONTROLLED ELECTRIC SWITCHFiled Oct. 24. 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 \HIHIJIIIIIIIIIW I,

l fiarwegg Patented June 24, 1930 i WILLIAM BODEOUZEK, OF CHICAGO,ILLINOIS COIN-CONTROLLED ELECTRIC SWITCH Application filed October 24,1929. Serial n. 402,051.

This invention relates generally to coincontrolled electric switches andhas particular referenceto an improved device operable by coins forcontrolling the operation of a radio receiving set for a predeterminedperiod of time.

My device may be sold as an accessory for connection to an electricallyoperated radio or obviously, may be built within the housing or cabinetof a radio receiver as a builtin feature to afford a coin-operated radioreceiver which can be installed in public places such as restaurants,hotels and clubs.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a novel coin-operatedelectric switch which is so constructed and arranged that a normallyopen electric circuit may be closed for a predetermined time by thedeposit into the device of a coin; the arrangement being such that afterthe elapse oi such predetermined time, the circuit will be automaticallyrestored to normal open con-- dition by the automatic operation of saidswitch. 2

in adjustable electrical means for variably controlling the time duringwhich said cir-. cuit remains in closed position.

Still another object of the invention resides in the novel details ofconstruction and arrangement of the coin-controlled motoroperated switchfor opening and closing said circuit.

A .further object of the invention finds embodiment in the means formaintaining the closed position of the switch for a limited time afterthe release of the coin by the coinretaining mechanism so as to move theswitch into normal open position.

A still further object of the invention is found in the novelconstruction and arran ement of the coin-operable mechanism whlch isprovided with novel means for retaining and releasing of the coin duringthe pre determined 0 eration of the switch.

With the a ove and other objects in view, my invention consists in thenovel features of construction and arrangement shown in preferredembodiment in the attached drawmgs, described in the followingspecifica- Another object of my invention is found tions andparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings 3 Fig. 1, is a perspective view of my improveddevice embodying my invention, shown connected to a radio receiver whichis partly shown.

Fig. 2, isa diagram of the electric circuit employed in the arrangementherein disclosed.

Fig. 3, is a plan view of my invention with the cover'of the housing ofmy device removed to show the parts.

Fig. 4, is'a vertical section taken on line 4540f Fig. 3, showing theparts in side elevation.

Fig. 5, is a side elevation of the switch and coin-operable mechanismshowing the coin-operable mechanismin position after the coin has beenreleased while the switch is still in closed position and just beforethe switchis moved into open position, by the motor thereof.

Fig. 6, is a cross-section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5, showing themotor worm drive for the switch and spring contact.

Referring to Fig. l, the casing 10 for my improved device is providedwith a slidably removable cover 11 and end 12 which are normally held inunremovable position by a lock 13 clasped through the ears I l and 15which are respectively secured to the cover 11 and end 12. The base ofthe casing 16 may be secured in an unremovable position by bolts passedthrough the base cars 16 and holes 17 may be provided for ventilation inthe casing sides. The exposed end of a coin receiving chute is shown bynumeral 18. An end portion of a radio receiver is indicated by numeral19 having a connection with the switch-controlled power line with in thecasing through the conductor 20. The electric power conductor isindicated by numeral 21.

In the diagram of the electric circuit shown in Fig. 2, the positive anunegative leads of the power conductor 21 are con 'nected to the bindingposts 22 and 23 respectively. The positive and negative leads of theconductor 20 for the radio receiver are respectively connected to thebinding posts 24 and 25. A positive lead 26 extends from thepost 22 tothe stationary switch contact member 27 which cooperates with themovable switch contact member 28 for completing or breaking the circuitthrough the lead 29 which extends from the member 28 to the post 24 ofthe positive lead of the radio receiver conductor 20. The negative lead30 permanently connecting the negative leads of the radio receiverconductor and power conductor between the posts and 23.

The contact member 28 is fixed to the balanced arm 31 which is pivotallymounted at 32 and normally positioned to maintain the circuit justdescribed in open condition with the movable contact member 28 out ofcontact with the stationary contact member 27. v f

The pivotally mounted balanced arm 31 is provided with a coin receiver33 at one -end thereof which upon the deposit of a coin therein isadapted, by the weight of such coin, to oscillate the arm 31 about itspivot 32 to cause the member 28 to engage the member 27 to thereby'complete the above described circuit.

The coin within the receiver 33 will continue to maintain the circuitjust described in closed condition until the coin is released therefromby the rotating coin-releasing member 34 which is brought into rotationupon the completion of said circuit by a motor 35. The motor circuitconsists of a positive lead 36 connecting one terminal of the motor withthe lead 29 and a negative lead 37 connecting at one end with the lead30 and at its other end with the rheostat 38 which is connected with thenegative terminal of the motor.

The motor will continue to rotate the member 34 and the shoe 39 which issecured thereto will be brought into engagement with the contact shoe 40which is fixed to the arm 31 and conductively connected with theposially tilted or oscillated to release the coin from the receiver 33whereupon the counterweighted arm 31 will be brought to normal positionwith the circuit open between the contacts 27 and 28, but since theshoes 39 and 40 which are made of electrically conductive material willstill be in engagement with each other the motor 35 will continue torotate the member 34 until the shoe 39 has passed and released itselffrom contact with shoe 40. The circuit to-the motor in such case ismaintained by a lead 42 which is connected at one end tothelead 36 atthe other, end with a spring contact blade 43 which is in continuous.engagement with a metallic rin 44. r

When t e shoe 39 has passed and released itself from contact with shoe40 the circuit to the motor will obviously be open therebetween and themotor will gradually come to a stop and the circuit to the radioreceiver will also be open. To repeat'the operation it will be neccesaryto deposit the device in one cycle of operation or complete rotation ofthe member 34."

The speed of rotation of member 34, or the period of time during whichthe radio receiver may be operated, may be varied not only by the numberof shoes 39 mounted thereon, but also, obviously, by the setting of therheostat 38.

Referring now to Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive, the rheostat 38 is providedwith an adjusting knob 38 for controlling the speed of the motor 35which is preferably provided with a cooling fan 35 at one end of themotor shaft and with a suitable speed reducer 35 at the other end of themotor shaft.

The speed reducer shaft 46 is provided with a worm 47 which is inoperative mesh with the worm gear 48 rigidly mounted on the verticallydeposed shaft 49. v

The shaft 49 is rotatably mounted in bearings 50 and 51 of the bracketsupport 52.

A rotatable coin-releasing disk member 34 of electrically non-conductivematerial is loo rigidly mounted upon the upper end of shaft 49. .The'disk member 34 has imbedded in its underside a metallic ring 44 which iscontinuously engaged by the spring contact blade 43. The ring 44 acts asa current feed to the shoes 39 and 39 which are also fixed to theunderside of the disk member 34 and have shanks extending through thedisk to the nuts 39*. The shoe retaining nuts 39 also securely retainthe short connectors 53 which connect the shanks of the shoes 39 and 39to the pins 54 which extend through the disk 34 into contact with thering 44.

The arm 31 is made of electrically nonconductive material, is pivotallymounted on the screw pin 32 to a block support of electricallynon-conductive material indlcated by numeral 55.

One end of the arm 31 is slightly enlarged and provided with a weight 56to normally retain such arm in balanced position with thecircuit closinspring contact body of rectangular cross-section with two opposite endsformed triangularly and with one side 33 bent angularly to form a springarm 31 will be tilted by the weight of such.

coin 59 and the contact member 28 will be brought into engagement withthe member 27 to close the motor circuit as well as the power circuit tothe radio receiver, as above stated.

The motor 35 through its driving connections will rotate the member 34continuous-- ly until the shoe 39 or 39 engages the shoe 40 to reverselytilt the arm 31. During the tilting of the arm 31 by the engagement ofthe shoe 39 with the shoe 4,0, the opposite end of arm 31 will begradually raisedv and during such' movement, the extensions 33 will bebrought into abutment with the pins 57 and the side 33 will be graduallyflexed to provide an opening for the gravity discharge of the coin heldtherewithin. The coin will fall between the prongs 33 and pins 57 intothe coin tray 60 and after the shoe 39 has passed and released the shoe40, the arm 31 will be swung to normal balanced position with'thecircuit broken ,between the contacts 27 and 28 and also between theshoes 39 and 4:0.

An additional coin deposited into the chute opening 18 will be passedthrough the guide tube 18 into the receiver 33 and the operativecondition of the circuits and radio receiver will again bere-established forthe predetermined time required for the shoe 39 (or 39to again break such circuit.

it may again be brought out that when the circuit is broken. between thecontacts 27 and 28 durin the tilting of the arm 31 and release of t ecoin, the circuit is tem porarily still closed through the cont-actingshoes 39 and 40 and is finally broken (or zpened). only upon the releaseof the shoe I claim:

1. The combination with an electric power circuit of a radio receiver,of a coin-operated switch for controlling the electric power to saidreceiver, said switch comprising a motor, a member rotatable by saidmotor, 'a shoe carried by said rotatable member, a pivotally mounteddevice having a coin receiver and an abutment, and a pair of circuitclosing contacts adapted tobe brought into contacting position to closethe power circuit to said motor and said radio receiver upon the tiltingof said device by the deposit of a coin in said receiver, said motorbeing operative upon the closing of said power circuit to rotate saidmember with said shoe into engagement with said. abutment to therebytilt said device in opposite direction to release the coin from saidreceiver to thus open the circuit to said motor and radio receiverbetween said circuit closing contacts. I

2. The combination with an electric power circuit of a radio receiver ofa coin operated 1 switch as embodied in claim 1, and includingelectrical connections for said shoe and sai abutment, whereby saidmotor and said radio receiver will continue to be energized by saidpower circuit for a period of time during thecontact of said shoe withsaid abutment, after the circuit is opened or broken between saidcircuit closing contacts and until said shoe has been moved out ofengagement with said abutment. 3. A coin-operable switch for controllingthe periodic electrical energization of electrically operatedinstrumentalities, comprising an electric power circuit,-'a motor, a

member rotatable by said motor, a rheostat for said motor for adjustablycontrolling the speed of said rotating member, a shoe car-.

ried by said rotatable member-,an oscillatably mounted arm having acoin-receiver on one side of its oscillating center and an abutment onthe other side of its oscillating center, a normally open circuit closeradapted to be brought into closed circuit position upon the deposit of acoin into said coinreceiver to tilt said arm in one direction wherebythe electrically operated instrumentality will be energized by saidpower circuit with said motor simultaneously energized to cause arotation of said rotatable member, said rotatable member being adaptedto move said shoe into engagement with said abutment and to graduallytilt said arm in the opposite direction-to therebymove said circuitcloser into open circuit position, and means for releasing said coinfrom said coin-receiver during the tilting of said arm in the oppositedirection.

4. A coin-operableswitch as embodied in claim 3, and includin said shoeand said abutment of electrica ly conductive material, and electricalconnections for said shoe and said abutment arranged to continue to enerize said motor and said instrumentality or a period of time during thecontact engagement of said shoe with said abutment combination, anormally open circuit, a

pivotall mounted arm, a coin-receiver .mount'e on one end of said arm,said coinreceiver having a resilient gate, said arm being tiltable inone direction upon the deposit of a coin, or the like, in saidcoin-receiver to thereb close said circuit, and an abutment for saidresilient gate, said arm being tiltable in the opposite direction withsaid resilient gate into engagement with said abutment to flex said gateto permit the gravity discharge of said coin from said coinreceiver tothereby permit the return of said arm into normal position with saidcircuit in open condition. In witness whereof I aflix my signature.

WILLIAM-PODROUZEK.

